Minoxidil
Minoxidil is a vasodilator used on the scalp for pattern hair loss and, as tablets, for high blood pressure; PockDose lists Rogaine solution and minoxidil tablets.
One ingredient, two routes
Minoxidil began as a tablet for severe high blood pressure. Extra hair growth showed up as a side effect, and a liquid for the scalp followed. The two are used in quite different ways and should not be mixed up: the solution is applied to the scalp and stays largely there, while tablets are swallowed and act on the whole body. Both are listed here.
Rogaine: the scalp solution
Rogaine is generic minoxidil solution in 5% and 10% bottles, and it is the listing for hair loss. It is used for pattern thinning, applied twice a day, and it takes months to show: four at the least, up to a year for the full result. How it grows hair is not fully understood. It seems to lengthen the growth phase of the follicle and plump up shrunken follicles. The effect lasts only as long as the application does. The 10% bottle carries twice as much minoxidil per millilitre as the 5%.
Scalp itching, dryness and flaking are common, and alcohol-based solutions can sting. A small part of each application is absorbed, which is why a rapid heartbeat, swelling or chest pain would need urgent attention. It does little for a receding hairline at the front, and it suits recent thinning at the crown best. For hair on the scalp, the bottle is the product built for the job.
Minoxidil tablets
Minoxidil tablets come in 5mg and 10mg and are listed for both hair loss and high blood pressure. As a blood pressure drug, minoxidil relaxes the muscle in blood vessel walls so they widen and pressure drops. Taken by mouth it also draws fluid into the body and speeds the heart, so swelling, weight gain, breathlessness and a fast pulse are things to watch, and unwanted hair on the face and body is common.
That is why the two are separate products despite the shared ingredient: the tablets reach the whole body, the bottle stays on the scalp. For hair, start with Rogaine. The tablets suit a buyer who has chosen minoxidil by mouth and accepts those effects. Pack sizes are on each product page.
Sources
- Minoxidil Topical: MedlinePlus Drug Information — National Library of Medicine
- Alopecia (hair loss) - NHS inform — NHS Inform (NHS Scotland)
Where can I buy Minoxidil in Hong Kong?
Minoxidil can be ordered online with delivery to Hong Kong. The range includes Minoxidil tablets in 5mg and 10mg, and generic Rogaine in 5% and 10% bottles. An order that has not been dispatched can be cancelled within 24 hours, and support answers 24/7 in English and Cantonese.
What is the price of Minoxidil?
It depends on the product, strength and pack size. Each of the two minoxidil products listed here shows its current prices in HKD or the currency you select.
Do I need a prescription to order Minoxidil?
PockDose does not ask you to upload a prescription when you order minoxidil. See the ordering FAQ for details.
What is another name for minoxidil?
Loniten and Rogaine are brand names of minoxidil, which is also sold as Mintop, Regrow and Tugain. Here, minoxidil can be bought online as generic Rogaine and minoxidil tablets. These are generics, not the original brand.
Is Rogaine the same as minoxidil?
Rogaine is a brand name for minoxidil solution. On this page, Rogaine is the scalp solution, in 5% and 10% bottles, while Minoxidil is the tablet. The ingredient is the same but the route is not: one goes on the skin, the other is swallowed.
Can minoxidil on the scalp lower blood pressure?
Only a small share of scalp minoxidil reaches the bloodstream, so effects on blood pressure are uncommon. They can still occur in some people, which is why a racing heart, dizziness or swelling in the ankles or face while using the solution is taken seriously.
Why are the minoxidil tablets listed for blood pressure?
Because that is what minoxidil was developed to treat. The same tablet is listed for both uses here. Its effects on the whole body, such as fluid retention and a faster pulse, come from the blood pressure action, and extra hair growth is the side effect that led to the scalp solution.